7A West 2022 Preview: Bentonville Tigers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every football season in the Northwest Arkansas, high school football fans and scouts look to see where the Bentonville Tigers are predicted to finish. The Tigers always have a talented roster and always have the conference championship as a goal they would like to accomplish. Bentonville has a team that has the potential for a deep playoff run and we are going to take a look at the Tigers today.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bentonville offense has the potential to have one of the most dynamic offenses in the 7A West this season. Bentonville always has talented signal callers leading the offense and this season is no different. Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='392411' first='Carter' last='Nye'] throws the football with impressive accuracy. He can throw with some touch and burn the ball into his wide receivers when necessary. Opposing defenses will need to account for his ability to run the football. He is a dangerous player both throwing and running the football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the running back position, the Tigers have all-state running back [player_tooltip player_id='75143' first='Josh' last='Ficklin'] returning for his senior season. Ficklin does everything that scouts are looking for in a running back. He runs with good speed and rushed for 1,529 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. From a pass catching perspective, Ficklin did an excellent job working as a receiver out of the backfield. Bentonville has a strong rushing attack, and this will be an interesting rushing attack to watch this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The passing attack for the Tigers has plenty of talented wide receivers to target this season. [player_tooltip player_id='320933' first='CJ' last='Brown'] has had a strong summer and was extremely impressive last season. He has the speed to stretch the field and will cause plenty of problems for opposing secondaries this season. La'Quarius Brown, [player_tooltip player_id='381719' first='Carson' last='Tucker'], and [player_tooltip player_id='321739' first='Luke' last='Coon'] are all prospects that can stretch the field. The Bentonville receiving corps is a dangerous group to defend. Every single one of them has the speed to beat you deep. [player_tooltip player_id='392414' first='Eli' last='Brooks'] at the tight end position is going to be an interesting prospect to watch this season. He does a great job of running routes and working his way back to the quarterback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shifting gears to the defensive side of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='193150' first='Trevor' last='Martinez'] is versatile defensive lineman that plays on the offensive side of the ball as well. Martinez can shut down an opponent's rushing attack. Aidyn Lynch is a defensive lineman that uses his power well to get under the opposing offensive lineman's pads. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='147105' first='Nick' last='Stone'] has good speed and is a player that is always around the ball carrier. The front seven for the Tigers are going to be a tough defense for opposing offenses to contend with. Meanwhile, the secondary is going to be something to watch out for with J.T. Tomescko patrolling the secondary. He has a nose for the football and a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='392415' first='Johnny' last='Pike'] is a hard-hitting safety that can make plays in both the runs and the passing game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bottom line the Tigers have the talent to play deep into November. I expect them to contend for a conference championship. With plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball, the Tigers are a team that will play deep in November and possibly contend for a state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some players to watch out for this season that will light things up on Friday nights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='392411' first='Carter' last='Nye']-Quarterback-6'1” 170-Pounds-2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='75143' first='Josh' last='Ficklin']-Running Back-5'10” 200-Pounds-2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='386125' first='Jason' last='Gilmore']-Running Back-5'7” 175-Pounds-2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='392414' first='Eli' last='Brooks']-Tight End-6'2” 190-Pounds-2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='170805' first='Joey' last='Su'a']-Offensive Line-6'5” 320-Pounds-2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='193150' first='Trevor' last='Martinez']-Offensive Line-6'3” 320-Pounds-2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='170203' first='Logan' last='Tymeson']-Kicker-5'10” 145-Pounds-2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320933' first='CJ' last='Brown']-Athlete-6'1” 185-Pounds-2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>La'Quarius Brown-Wide Receiver-6'1” 165-Pounds-2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321739' first='Luke' last='Coon']-Wide Receiver-5'11 155-Pounds-2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='147105' first='Nick' last='Stone']-Linebacker-5'11” 190-Pounds-2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brock Skidmore-Linebacker-5'11 190-Pounds-2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>J.T. Tomescko-Defensive Back-6'2” 170-Pounds-2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='392415' first='Johnny' last='Pike']-Defensive Back-5'10” 175-Pounds-2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='349870' first='Trason' last='Hunt']-Offensive Line-6'5" 280-Pounds-2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->